Two (2) Compartment Place Preference for Mice

DESCRIPTION: The National Institutes of Health- NIAAA intends to procure the services of a contractor to provide a two (2) Compartment Place Preference w/Auto Guillotine Doors & Lights for Mice. This is a part of an established research and experiments on the Conditioned Place Preference Chambers to be done by the Lead Project managers/Researchers at the Lab. The project investigates the motivational effects of alcohol consumption in wildtype and genetic mouse models listed on the animal protocols: LIN-MA1 and LIN-DL-1. The Lab would like to purchase the “Compartment” and related components, interface, software and utilities to be able to observe the mice. Animal position is tracked by IR photobeam detectors eliminating issues found with video tracking methods such as varying light levels or obstructed views of the animal. A maximum of eight (8) chambers can be operated from one computer. The Lab already owns some similar equipment and needs to expand their resources to advance the research further. Place conditioning procedures have been used to study human addiction to alcohol for the past several years. This experimental resource has been utilized successfully due to the fact that investigators can carefully manipulate the experimental design in order to explore specific hypotheses. This is a pre-solicitation and a notice of intent to award a sole-source, fixed price purchase order to Med Associates, located in Fairfax,Vt. 05478 for commercial items prepared in accordance with FAR Parts 12 and 13. It is the intent of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)- NIAAA under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 to procure this equipment on a sole source to be able to continue and compare data from previous research using the very same equipment so that they can understand and treat alcohol disorders while developing appropriate models of addiction. While Med Associates is not the unique and only provider of “Compartment Cages” technology that enables neuroscientists to both simultaneously image and optogenetically manipulate large-scale cellular brain activity in freely-behaving rodents, the other vendors are either distributors of the same product (with a markup) or have components and/or software not compatible with the current equipment at the Lab. According to the Lab and market research, “Med Associates, Inc provides an essential tool for assessing the motivational effects of alcohol consumption. They guarantee well-built and optimized equipment that guarantees high-quality and consistent measurements. Equipment from Med Associates, Inc is utilized by many scientists and trainees in the field, and includes researchers currently at NIAAA, such as Drs. Veronica Alvarez and Dr. Andrew Holmes. It is imperative to use the same methodology and equipment as that previously used by the Lead Project managers on this project, to be able to make valid comparisons across studies and validate the published results.” Products needed: 2 Compartment Place Preference w/Auto Guillotine Doors & Lights – Mouse USB Interface Package PC V 64bit Software, Lab License Preference Utility, 28V DC Power Distribution Panel, Cable Adaptor,28V Polarized Female Molex to 0.80 Pins for SG-215D3 Sound Attenuating Cubicle Package for Mouse Open Field 28V, 3A DC Power Supply; 4 & 1 Port USB Hub Two chamber place preference insert for Mouse OFA with Perforated Steel Floor Seamless Open Field Arena for Mouse In order to comply with the requirements in this Special Notice # HHSNMouseCompartment063021 , the responses should be based on our interpretation of the general requirements provided above. The proposed contract action is for a “continuation of / follow-on similar services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. However, interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit quotations. This notice is not a request for competitive quotes but all quotes received within the time and date of publication of this " Notice” will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a future competitive procurement. HOW TO RESPOND: In order to compete for this project, interested parties must be registered in the Central Contracting Registration/SAM and submit a price quotation by 10:00 am, ET on July 15, 2021. Offerors should submit one copy of the quote to MOE FILALI via email. Electronic transmissions to [email protected] are preferable but must be timely. It is the responsibility of the Offeror to ensure the proposal is received by the date and time shown above. This is a “special Notice”/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation number is HHSNMouseCompartment063021 and is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation/contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2019-05. Additional Provisions: At any time during the life of this contract, the Government may also request new or revised products and services under this contract. New or revised products may include, but are not limited to, existing products at a higher license count, new versions of existing products and/or additional products not currently included under this contract. Quoted prices for new or revised products and services shall be constructed in accordance with the pricing structure guidelines established at the time of the original contract award. Discounts shall be at the same or greater discount level as the original contract award product prices. The Government reserves the right to accept all, none, or some of the requested changes. Any requested changes shall become effective ONLY upon written acceptance by the Contracting Office. 52.239-1 Privacy or Security Safeguards (AUG 1996) (a) The Contractor shall not publish or disclose in any manner, without the Contracting Officer’s written consent, the details of any safeguards either designed or developed by the Contractor under this contract or otherwise provided by the Government. (b) To the extent required to carry out a program of inspection to safeguard against threats and hazards to the security, integrity, and confidentiality of Government data, the Contractor shall afford the Government access to the Contractor’s facilities, installations, technical capabilities, operations, documentation, records, and databases. (c) If new or unanticipated threats or hazards are discovered by either the Government or the Contractor, or if existing safeguards have ceased to function, the discoverer shall immediately bring the situation to the attention of the other party. 352.224-71 Confidential Information (DEC 2015) (a) Confidential Information, as used in this clause, means information or data of a personal nature about an individual, or proprietary information or data submitted by or pertaining to an institution or organization. (b) Specific information or categories of information that the Government will furnish to the Contractor, or that the Contractor is expected to generate, which are confidential may be identified elsewhere in this contract. The Contracting Officer may modify this contract to identify Confidential Information from time to time during performance. (c) Confidential Information or records shall not be disclosed by the Contractor until: (1) Written advance notice of at least 45 days shall be provided to the Contracting Officer of the Contractor's intent to release findings of studies or research, to which an agency response may be appropriate to protect the public interest or that of the agency. (2) For information provided by or on behalf of the government, (i) The publication or dissemination of the following types of information are restricted under this contract: [INSERT RESTRICTED TYPES OF INFORMATION. IF NONE, SO STATE.] (ii) The reason(s) for restricting the types of information identified in subparagraph (i) is/are: [STATE WHY THE PUBLIC OR GOVERNMENT INTEREST REQUIRES THE RESTRICTION OF EACH TYPE OF INFORMATION. ANY BASIS FOR NONDISCLOSURE WHICH WOULD BE VALID UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT IS SUFFICIENT UNDER THIS CLAUSE.] (iii) Written advance notice of at least 45 days shall be provided to the Contracting Officer of the Contractor's intent to disseminate or publish information identified in subparagraph (2)(i). The contractor shall not disseminate or publish such information without the written consent of the Contracting Officer. (d) Whenever the Contractor is uncertain with regard to the confidentiality of or a property interest in information under this contract, the Contractor should consult with the Contracting Officer prior to any release, disclosure, dissemination, or publication. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. § 794d) Software with Graphic User Interface (GUI) must comply with the Section 508. Please provide statement on quote that software is 508 compliant. The Section 508 standards applicable to this contract/order are identified below: a. A text equivalent for every non-text element shall be provided (e.g., via "alt", "longdesc", or in element content). b. Documents shall be organized so they are readable without requiring an associated style sheet. c. Row and column headers shall be identified for data tables. d. Pages shall be designed to avoid causing the screen to flicker with a frequency greater than 2 Hz and lower than 55 Hz. e. A text-only page, with equivalent information or functionality, shall be provided to make a web site comply with the provisions of this part, when compliance cannot be accomplished in any other way. The content of the text-only page shall be updated whenever the primary page changes. f. When pages utilize scripting languages to display content, or to create interface elements, the information provided by the script shall be identified with functional text that can be read by Assistive Technology. g. When a web page requires that an applet, plug-in or other application be present on the client system to interpret page content, the page must provide a link to a plug-in or applet that complies with 1194.21(a) through (l). h. When electronic forms are designed to be completed on-line, the form shall allow people using Assistive Technology to access the information, field elements, and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues. i. A method shall be provided that permits users to skip repetitive navigation links. The contractor must provide a written Section 508 conformance certification due at the end of each order/contract exceeding $100,000 when the order/contract duration is one year or less. If it is determined by the Government that EIT products and services provided by the Contractor do not conform to the described accessibility in the Product Assessment Template, remediation of the products and/or services to the level of conformance specified in the vendor's Product Assessment Template will be the responsibility of the Contractor at its own expense. In the event of a modification(s) to the contract/order, which adds new EIT products and services or revised the type of, or specifications for, products and services the Contractor is to provide, including EIT deliverables such as electronic documents and reports, the Contracting Officer may require that the contractor submit a completed HHS Section 508 Product Assessment Template to assist the Government in determining that the EIT products and services support Section 508 accessibility requirements. Instructions for documenting accessibility via the HHS Section 508 Product Assessment Template may be found at http://508.hhs.gov. The offeror must include a completed copy of the provision of FAR Clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items with its offer. The provisions of FAR Clause 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items; FAR Clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items; FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items; and FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Items – Deviation for Simplified Acquisitions applies to this acquisition. FAR Clause 52.204-24, Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunication and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment; FAR Clause 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment; FAR Clause 52.213-4 to reflect the changes in FAC 2019-05 and FAR Clause 52.244-6 to reflect the changes in FAC 2019-05. The offeror must include their Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. The clauses are available in full text at http://www.arnet.gov/far. Interested vendors capable of providing the Government with the equipment specified in this synopsis should submit their quotation to the below address. The quotation must reference “Solicitation number” HHSNMouseCompartment063021 . All responsible sources may submit a quotation, which if timely received, shall be considered by the agency. Quotations must be submitted by email to [email protected]. Faxed copies are no longer accepted The following Federal Acquisition Regulations clauses are incorporated by reference: FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (Mar 2005), 52.212-4 (Sept 2005), 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes of Executive Orders-Commercial Items (Aug 2006). (6)(i) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Apr 2002) (E.O. 11246). (18) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (Dec 2001) (38 U.S.C. 4212). (19) 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (Jun 1998) (29 U.S.C. 793). (20) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (Dec 2001) (38 U.S.C. 4212). (31) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration (Oct 2003) (31 U.S.C. 3332).